The 78-year-old, nicknamed "Grandpa William" on Chinese social media platforms, is an entrepreneur in the English education industry. He has become popular among Chinese netizens for his lighthearted and humorous videos. William said he became attached to China more than 20 years ago. William once visited Changsha in Hunan province in 1997. William's business in China was hit by the 2008 financial crisis, and he switched to English teaching in Shandong. He said he liked the job in education, and has garnered many friends and much support here. The COVID-19 epidemic has greatly changed William's life, though he appreciates China's efforts in dealing with the epidemic.
